By Teofilo P. Garcia Jr.
SUMISIP,
Basilan, Oct. 24 (PNA) -- Eleven Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) brigands, including a
sub-leader and a 12-year-old boy, on Monday surrendered to the government
authorities in this town.
Lt.
Gen. Mayoralgo Dela Cruz, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, and
Basilan Gov. Hadjiman Hataman-Saliman led the government officials in welcoming
the ASG-surrenderers in a ceremony held at the town hall.
The
group is led by Moton Indama, 26, a relative of ASG leader Furuji Indama, one
of the ASG brigands sub-leaders based in this province.
Indama’s
followers were identified as the following: Haimin Jalil, 17; Marham Musana,
18; Sadjara Hadjaraman, 28; Halid Murasimin, 20; Gulam Hajim, 19; Haraward
Sahirulla, 20; Basri Laisun, 18; Nasim Baliyung, 21; Ring Langka, 15; and,
12-year-old Tari Murasimin.
They
turned over high-powered firearms that included a Belgian-made Minimi 5.56
caliber light machinegun, one M-16 Armalite rifle attached with M-203 grenade
launcher, a caliber .30 M1 Garand rifle, a shotgun, three caliber .45 pistols,
a caliber .38 revolver and several rounds of ammunitions.
Indama
said they decided to surrender since they were already tired of fighting
against the government and they wanted to rejoin the mainstream of the society
to live peaceful life.
The
surrender of Indama’s group came days after they sent surrender feelers and
signified intention to lay down their arms.
Dela
Cruz told the surrenderers that they made the right choice instead of wasting
lives, citing President Rodrigo Duterte statement “we cannot be killing each
other every day.”
Dela
Cruz appealed to the ASG brigands to seize the opportunity to have a bright
future like the young boy.
He
said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is open for the surrender of the
other Abu Sayyaf members in this province.
